Fed-Ex Shipment Arrives Empty

The QR code or the bar code would not need to contain a URL or an item number. The QR code or the bar code need only contain the tracking number, which can then be linked to a great many number of associated things.

For example, when a postal employee scans a bar code, they are able to see when that package was accepted at the post office, when it was loaded onto a vehicle, when it arrived at the destination post office, when it went out for delivery, and when it was delivered. All of this information was retrieved by just using the bar code to obtain the tracking number, but that information was not contained in the bar code.

It would be easy to store any information that was passed to them from eBay/PayPal in their system, and associate that information to the tracking number. eBay/PayPal is obviously communicating with the USPS, because they send the payment information to them along with the tracking number, names, addresses, package type, weight, dimensions, service options, etc.. They could easily tuck the twelve digit auction ID into that transmission as well.

From a technical standpoint, there is no reason the USPS can't be doing this. Even the intranet limitation wouldn't stop them as that would only prevent them from opening a web browser and manually navigating to the auction. It wouldn't stop the USPS servers from being able to forward auction information to their screen.

The bottom line is that there is absolutely no technical limitation that is preventing the USPS or FedEx from doing what has been described in this thread. If they have chosen not to do this, it would be for business/ethical/legal reasons only.

 

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@Blaubart be careful or you'll be banned for being logical. Don't you know you are supposed to be arguing over minutia, grammar, puncuation and your favorite color?

 

I clicked "Like", but only because there isn't a "Sad, but true" option.

 

It wouldn't be that hard with ebay sellers for a usps employee to ascertain what is in the package; run the addresses through a specialized application of recently finished ebay sales and it will tell you what is inside, anyone with a modicum of intelligence could do that.

 

What you've described is certainly possible but "plausible" only in the mind of folks that want to believe that everybody is watching them for the sole purpose of taking what they have.

Yes, there are some bad folks out there but I have to believe my local Postal Employee's that they have no idea what is in the packages I receive and/or mail out. Their only interest is if I provided the proper amount of postage or that I receive that which I am expecting.

Suspecting that there is some grand scheme available with which the postal employees can pilfer my mail or rob my home is just lunacy.

 

Today, I sold some coins for around $500 on ebay. I used ebay shipping and bought Priority mail with signature confirmation. I took it to the window and watched his screen. The postman is a friend of mine and told him about the ongoing dispute on this thread. As he scanned in my package, it showed nothing different from the screen he regularly sees, with just some mailing codes and zip code stuff. He said the only thing on his screen is tracking info, weight, and nothing else special comes up. He said maybe a computer in the back would be able to pull the info of they dug enough, but he didn't know for sure one way or another.

I am not taking either side on this arguement. I am just stating my experience today.

 

You didn't use paypal shipping, though. You used eBay shipping.

 

Didn't OldGoldGuy say it pulled up his ebay listing? How is his situation different from mine? My label lists ebay and Paypal.

 

I don't print labels through ebay/paypal, period. Every package I've sent to a buyer was taken to a post office to be weighed and scanned. Even if I have to stand in line behind 50 people, I'll stand in line.

This way I don't think it's possible for an employee to know what is inside unless a package has been X-ray'd.

 

I believe you can log into your PayPal and print shipping labels, whether they are for eBay sales or not.

 

Yes, if you are paid through Paypal. Whenever I sell items on CT, I receive payment through Paypal and print from there. If I sell through ebay, it is printed through ebay but Paypal is also involved. If something is sold through ebay, I haven't heard of bypassing ebay and going to the Paypal website to print the label. The info to print the label would be imported from the ebay purchase, so it's probably all the same.

 

Maybe. Or maybe I just solved the entire mystery! (Cue the dramatic music).

 

I know you can print a label to any where anytime on PayPal. I sent my Christmas presents through PayPal. You can do it either on multiple labels or https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/w...63663d3faee8d66f31424b43e9a70645c907a6cbd8fb4

 

Yes, you can, but it would only pull up an Ebay auction if it was directly tied to an Ebay auction.

 

Wrong! It will only automatically upload eBay auctions, but all you have to do is "file" "create new orders" and enter what you wish.

 

If you read what I wrote, you wouldn't ask. I was PICKING UP a package. If you read this thread you would know that there are cash register terminals at the mailing area, and a regular computer at the package pickup area.

 

I have read every word of this whole thread. When they scan the barcode how is it any different from when they pick it up and when they hand it to you? Like I said in my first post I am not taking any sides I am just stating what my postal worker told me.

 

With the amount of BS I have taken for trying to help, I am holding all arguments to the same standard that is being expected of me. The only problem is when I observed this the first time I did not think that I would have to prove it in a court of law.

I can't speak for sending a package, only receiving. I respect your neutrality but I respect common sense more.

 

And in the common sense vein, you are correct, it's all the same, scanning or inputting.

 

If someone would buy a darn coin from me, I could at least eliminate the QR possibility